Unfocused Shadows

Shadows flickering,
The fire flares,
Sparks rise as incandescent specks.
Rhythmic pounding,
Hypnotic movement.
The muted orange glow reflecting off the dancer’s feverishly cool skin,
Their bodies writhing through the night.
Faster, faster,
Feet moving to the beat of the pounding drums,
Coaxing, calling,
Maidens and lords of the night,
Celebrating the harvest.
Chanting, dancing,
A gong rings, thunderous,
The hard packed dirt underfoot vibrating,
Cool and smooth,
Worn from frantic feet,
The sounds permeating every muscle and bone.
Pines illuminated in bass relief,
Viewers watching, participating,
Creating the closure of the circle.
Children stand awed,
All of the dancers momentarily their god or goddess,
Celebrating life,
The hunt,
Reality sliding in and out of focus,
Enraptured by the pulse of the life around,
Energy filling the air.
Everything becomes distant,
Nothing so important than going in circles,
Around, around, around,
Again.
Slower, faster,
The world seems to join in,
Circling with us,
Around the fire.
Come,
Come join us!
Rejoice in the world around us!
Come dance for the god, goddess,
And the son yet to come,
For this is the renewal of life,
This is the end and beginning.